Prejean, Helen, Sister

1939 - Sister Helen Prejean was born on April 21st in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. American Catholic nun and opponent of capital punishment.

1957-1962 - She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille and received a B.A. in English and Education from St. Mary's Dominican College, New Orleans.

1973 - Earned an M.A. in Religious Education from St. Paul's University in Ottawa, Canada.

1981 - Began her prison ministry when she dedicated her life to the poor of New Orleans.

1985 - Served on the board of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

1993-1994 - Sister Helen turned her experiences into a book that not only made the American Library Associates Notable Book List, it was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States was number one on the New York Times Best Seller List for 31 weeks.

- Served as Chairperson of the Board of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

2004 - Her second book, The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions, was published in December.